Pneumatic conveyer system



J. C. REED PNEUMATIC CONVEYER SYSTEM I Feb. 4, 1930.

INVENTOR Filed Sept. 14, 19 27 a Patented Feb. 4, 19.30

T D; ATES :rormxc. RE D, or sTnEL'roN} rn vlvsynvnivm, AssrcmoR 1T0 BETHLEHEM STEEL v r 1 "ooMPAN'Yf,"

'f PNEUMATIC convnvnn :sYsTE "Applicationfiled septeinber 14,1927." seriarno. 219,350.

invention relates to improvements in pneumatic conveyer systems .and more generally-to the type where two 'separatesta tions are connected by asingle tube.

5 The object of my invention is to provide whenfit is desired tosendan article or mes-.

an electric'ally controlled. conveyer system which contains means for signalling the re: ceiving station and for automaticallyadm1t-.

ting compressed air to the conveyer. tube V sage, contained ina carrier, therethrough.

- The tube 1015 provided at-its end with d'e Another object of my invention is to pro vide means for 'automati'cally rendering the signalling means inoperative and fonautomaticallyand slmultaneousl-y shutting off the I air supply as soon as" the carrier is'discharged from the tube, thus returning the conveyer system toits normally inert position.

The novel features ofmy invention will be more fully understo'od fromthe follow in'gdescription and claims taken with they ac}. V

" nect contacts 27 'andr28, and also causing concompanying drawings in which:

system having a single tube 10 through which carriers'l'l are pneumatically passed.

flectors 12' and 12 which: serveto retard the velocity of the carriers, and directsft hem' downwardly upon their discharge from the tube. Connected toconveyer tube adjacent 'the endsat stations Aand B are air supplypipes, designated as 13 and 13", respectively.-

These pipes are connected to a main 'compressed air supply pipe 14 through the branch 7 lines 15 and 1-5, respectivelypln each of the latter I provide solenoid operated valves and'16'. Openings 17 and 17 are provided in the tube through which carriers '11 are inserted and are ejected, depending upon the direction in which the carriers are being con-'- veyed. Covers 18 and 18 are providedfor closingthe openings 17 and '17, respectively, as hereinafter described. '19 and 19' are receiving platforms for the carriers, and are provided with cushions 20 and 20, 'respec tively', to deaden the impactwhen carriers are I discharged from the system.

Referring now to-the electricalcircuit, and?22:;designate the 230evolt D.: O..; main 32, and is insulated therefrom. a

'f;36'iandj36 aresolenoids for operating the airsupply valves'16 and 16-,;respectively- As these solenoids are identical in construction and operation only oneY will be; described. y Solenoid 36.consists-ofj a coil 3? and a core I 38 which forms the stem ofthe valve 16. The V core 3.8 is held in its outward position by the ing the. valve 16.

bottomfcontacts 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29, and

25, 26 ,27, 28, andc29, respectively... The

solenoids for operating these switches are designated as 30 and 3.0.-',..and as theirjcone struction and operation are identical th'e lde-l scriptionof only one of .themwill be given. "Solenoid30consists ;of a coil 31 and aimove' able core or armature 32 which is providedon one end with a contactor 33rand,.on;the other with. a contactor 34. Normally the core 82 is constrainedfto its outward -position-by means of the coillspring '35 and in-thisvpositioncontactor 33 connects contacts 25 and 26. When thesolenoid is .energized the1c0re is drawn inwardly, overcoming the pressure of the spring. 35qand causing the contactor 3.3

todisconnectcontacts 25 and 26 and to contactors 34c to make connections with contacts 29:3 Contactor 34 is connected to wire 55 which passes through the center of the core coil spring 39 and in this position closes the valve 16.1 When the solenoid 36 is energized the. core; 38' isv drawn inwardly overcoming the pressure of thespr-ing 39and'thus open-- 7 I 40 and 4E0 are-normally I the handles offwhich extend in-the pathof the ejected carriers intermediategthe deflectors. 12 and-12andthe cushionsj20 and20'. of the receiving tables 19 and 19;.-

. 4.1- and 41' are l25-volt incandescentlamps provided for signalling means. 1

I 42,and42 are push ttons for initia'lly rendering the systemeffective.

In operation, assuming that to station; B,it1irongh th iseuyey lt re uke. .0

s it isvd'esired to send a message or article fromstation A connects the contacts 43 and. 44 and causes the current to flow from the main power line 21 through switch 23, wires 45, 46, solenoid coil Slfwire 47, push button 42 and wires 48 and 49. The current-from wire49'" divides in Wire 50, partof thecurrent fiow-fl.

ing through lamp 41, wire 51, switch 40, Wire 52, contacts 25 and 26, wires 53, 54 and switch:

23 to main line wire 22; and the other part of theicurrentfiowing through lamp 41", wire 511, switch40, wire 52, contacts 25 .and.v

26', wires 53", 54 and switch'23. to main line wire 22;. Thelamps 41 and 41 now being in parallel with eachfotherand in series with the coil' 31' of solenoid switch 24, there will not bQSl'lfilGlGIll? currentpassing through the lamps to 'causeneither'of' them to be illuminated. The' current passing through the coil31 of solenoidBO-Will energize same and. cause contactor 33 to break the connection between contacts- 25 and 26 and the opening of this circuit will "interrupt the current flowing through lamp 41 and cause all of the current passing through: the coil 31 to" pass through the lamp 41" and I will illuminate the same.

Theaction' of -theisolenoidlwill also 'closecon tacts 27 and 28'whichare in parallel with contacts 48 -and 44 of the-push button 42, making ,it unnecessary for the operator to lon ger push the button 42-. iThe action of the solenoid will also iclosecontactor- 34 and eontact 29' which will cause current to flow from the wire 45 through contact 29, contactor 34,-

Wire 55, coil 37'of solenoid 36, wire 54and switch 23" to the minus sideof-the: main power *lineJ The current passing through coil 37 of solenoid 36 energizes same and" causes it' to I actuatethe air valve 16. The opening of valve 16 allows air under pressure to be admitted, through themedium ofithe pipe" 13,- to thetube 10 at the rear of'the carrier 11.

' 'The'air pressure will cause: the carrier 11 to be conveyed through the tube 10 to station B where it is ejected and falls uponthe cushion 20, which is supported by the receiving platform 19". Just beforethe carrier reaches the cushion 20 it'strikesthe handle of the switch 40 I and causes it to'trip. The'tripping of the 'switch I 40- "breaks the electrical circuit and causes the solenoids. SOand 36 to become de-energized, thuscausing the valve 16 to be returned to its normally closed position to prevent the admission of'compress'ed air to the tube'lO, and simultaneously ex tingu-ishes the lamp '41. V

Assoon as the carrier": passes the trip switch theaswitch automati cally returns to its normally closed position and the conmodifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as arerimposed by the prior art'or as are specifically set forth in the: appended claims. i 1 Having thus: described 'my invention what I claim HSTDGW-ZLIlCl desire to secure-byLet: ters Patent is: c

L'In a pneumatic 'conveyer. system, a

a single tube connectingtwo stations, said tube having an-opening at' each 'end forthe pas-1' sage of an article, a closure member :for said open ng, a compressed air supply -p1pe connected ad aCent each end of said tube, norma'llyi closed valvesin said air pipes, an

electrical circuit, signalling means-,'n1eansfor rendenng said electrical: circuit effective,

solenoid rcontrollingmeans for said 1 signaL ling meansand said valves, said controlling means adapted tov maintain sald s1gnall1ng means effective continuously'during the pres-5 ence of acarrier in the tube and a trip switch adapted to be-actuated byrthedischargeof the article being conveyed for rendering the signalling means ineffective.

25A" pneumatic system for conveyingarticles, comprising a-pair of distant 'sta: tions, at conveyertube interconnecting :said station-s, said. tube having an opening at each end thereoffor the passage ofan article to be transmitted from one station to .the.other,-

closure for :each of said openings, a compressed "fluid pipe connected to said; tube, a

valvenormally closing'said pipe, a signalling 7 device, an electrical circuit'for operating said valve and'said device, means for rendering said circuit effective, means formaintaining: :the signalling device efleetive con tinuously during the presence of a. carrier inthe tube, andmeans adapted to be actuated A by :therdischarge: of the article be-.

ing. vconveyed for rendering. the circuit. ineffective.

- 3=. A pneumatic systeml for: conveying articles comprising apair of 'distant 's tations said'tubehaving an openinga't each end thereof for the-:pa'ssageoiian article torbe transmitted from one'station' to therother, a closure for each; of" saidxopenings, a compressedjfiuid w pipe connectedto said tube, a valve normally :closin'g saidapip.e, -asignalling I renderin said circuit and said signalling de- I device adapted to be illuminated, an electrical circuit for operating said valve and said device, means for rendering said circuit efiective, means for maintaining said signalling device effective continuously duringthe presence ofran article in the tube and means adapted to be actuated by the discharge of the article being conveyed for vice inc ective.

In testimony whereof I hereuntcaflix my signature.

JOHN C. REED. 

